Greening Residential Maintenance

This is the final installment of my series on green residential building. In this column, I want to emphasize the importance of residential behavior on green buildings. There are a number of actions and behaviors that should be kept in mind if the residents are to achieve the full measure of what a greenbuilt home can be for them. Their actions are the final determiner of the home’s value and homeowners deserve to know as much as they can to make it work best for them.
Ensuring High Indoor Environmental Quality
One easy step residents can take is to protect and clean all interior surfaces with non-toxic cleaners. This includes floors, countertops, furnishings, and windows. There are a number of environmental reasons for using non-toxic cleaners, not the least of which is the health of residents. The chemical composition of many cleaning solutions is being questioned, and with it, healthier options are being created. Organization such as Environmental Health Watch and the National Center for Healthy Housing provide information on some of these options.
All equipment in your green home should also be properly used and maintained. Filters should be regularly replaced on heating and cooling equipment. ...